It looks like Volvo is getting serious about electrification, as an executive recently said that each Volvo sold in the U.S. could be optionally equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

According to Autoblog Green, Dean Shaw -- VP Corporate Communications at Volvo Cars of North America -- said it's possible that all Volvos sold in the U.S. will have a plug-in hybrid version as well sometime soon. This includes cars like the XC90, V60 or S60.

Shaw went on to say that the Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), which Volvo has been working on since at least 2011, will be key to this venture. SPA is a modulular platform set to underpin all of its models sized from about the S60 up, and offers significant improvements when it comes to protection.

"The solution, when we started from the ground up is to really utilize this new platform that we have," Shaw said. "We've got an optimized engine installation, we've built a central part of the vehicle down the transmission tunnel we can store batteries in and then we have the electric rear-axle drive - the next-generation, if you like, after the V60 - going into that car as well. The car in China [S60L PPHEV] is taking little components of that, taking the latest engine and adding it to the hardware that we've been proving and selling very successfully in Europe."

Volvo XC Concept Coupe [SOURCE: Autoblog]

Shaw said an array of Volvo models will be use the new platform, from the replacement for the S60, the XC60, the V60, and the XC90. He said it could underpin any model that Volvo sells in the U.S. today.

"Everything we sell in the US today will be replaced by cars on this new platform," Shaw said. "We've said up front that every car on that platform could have a plug-in hybrid. I can't see why you wouldn't do that."

One example is the XC90 plug-in hybrid, which will have a PHEV powertrain and is due in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2015.

Shaw made it clear that Volvo's PHEVs will likely aim for the high-end consumer market in the U.S., as the price tags are a bit steep on these vehicles.

"One of the challenges that people have had with hybrids and plug-in hybrids is you're adding a bunch of expensive hardware," Shaw said.